Psalm 139:2 He understands!!!!!!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 

(Psa 139:2)

Think about it.  I know you know that God knows when we sit don and when we rise up.  But have you considered that He "understands" our thoughts?  That's not just our good thoughts or our thoughts about Him but He understands our less than acceptable thoughts as well.  He understands!!

Consider:

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.   (Heb 2:17-18)

He understands!!

I don't know how to express the depth and breadth of this.  It, for me, is overwhelming and kind of a scary comfort.  He understands!!

Consider - He was made like us- He was tempted Himself.  Yes, unlike us He did not sin but He "gets it."

Now, this can in no way be taken as some sort of an excuse for our way-ward and inappropriate thoughts - sin is still sin and error will always be error - but He understands!!

As Patti and I pass through this time of testing and trial we have "not so good thoughts."  Fearful thoughts, legalistic thoughts, hopeless thoughts, fleshly thoughts and murmuring thoughts.  They just come and when they do they distress us - greatly.  But I keep having some interesting thoughts as well.

I think, "Why me, why this,why now, why so heavy?"  Kind of like Moses I want to say, "Here I am Lord, send Aaron!"   Even, "Let this cup pass from me!"  But I am humbled when

I have the thought, "If not me, then who?"  I struggle to accept that this is His will for us right now.  Not to sound arrogant - but, He picked us for this and this for us for His glory and honor - not to mention our blessing.  This makes us no more "special" than any other believers - it just makes us the ones He is using where we are, in this circumstance.

With no Egypt there would have been no Exodus.  Without a crucifixion there would have been no resurrection.  No, I'm not elevating myself or my situation but I am trying hard to see it within the context of God bringing glory to Himself and strengthening me.

What helps is, He understands my fearful and anxious thought,s and though I know He desires that I overcome them by trusting Him, He is sympathetic to my weakness and frailty (which is part of what He wants me to see and appreciate so I will lean on Him).

Please dear ones hold tight to the truth that He understands all our thoughts!  Yes, He disapproves of many and worries for us over others but none of them come as some cosmic shock to Him.  He knew we'd have them and has provided relief for and from them because He understands!

Father my heart and my mind are weak and rebellious.  Only You can temper and tame them.  Knowing that You understand and that You sympathize and provide is such a comfort.

But Father, do not let me grow lazy or complacent concerning them.  Let me take hold of them and bring them to You for Your ministry and mercy.  Be gentle with me Lord for I am much like a little rabbit - jumpy and anxious.  Care for me by giving me the heart of a child when it comes to You.  Give me stronger trust and firmer assurance as each day passes and my imaginings and fancies prove false though frightening.

Let me know more and more Your lovingkindness and Your understanding and open myself to Your instruction and care.  Make me remember Your past mercies and provision and be deaf to the lies and cries of the deceiver.  Let me look only to You and hear only You as You minister to me through Your Word, Your Spirit and Your people.

Thank You for letting me know - You understand!!

Amen

Anxious?

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?    (Mat 6:24-25)

I am astounded at the "therefore."  Jesus has called His hearers to a point of decision, Mammon or God.  It's a hard choice in that our service to Mammon can be so very very subtle and has roots running deep into our flesh.  We can make the good choice but that only initiates the hard work of "rooting out" Mammon-ness.

But having called them to a point of decision He goes on as though they had indeed made the right choice.  He is telling us, "Having chosen God over Mammon do not be anxious about your life."  then he enumerates many of the things we do ge anxious about.  I hesitate to see this list as definitive (that is limited only to what is here) but rather I am tempted to expand it this way:

"Do not be anxious about those material things you need God to provide so that you may serve and honor Him while you are here."

I am reminded of Abraham when he was called to sacrifice Issac.  I can think of no greater "hard place" to be than the one he found himself in and yet he states:

Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." (Gen 22:8)

As i read this I wonder if we might consider that God will provide Himself with what is needed for His children to live in obedience and service.  The twist here is that God is providing it for Himself to us for His glory and honor.  Hope that's not too weird I don't want to start a theological fuss!

But if everything God does (and calls us to do) is for His glory - can't we see that he is providing it for Himself to us so we might glorify Him?

He KNOWS what we need - we THINK we know what we need.  See the difference?

Jesus asks a question we need to prayerfully consider and seek the Spirits guidance concerning:

"Is not life more than.....?"

Isn't it?  Really?

Please know I am aware of how tough a question that is and how so very much works to keep us from accepting this and living it out.  I am especially aware at how parents struggle so very much to raise their children to know this and live this.  We are in prayer for you all - please be in prayer for us as well.

msanders.bc@gmail.com

Encouragement, counsel and accountability - NEEDED

As you examine yourself ----- Encouragement

From experience I know that it is often hard to see the encouragements that God sends.  We tend to look for what we think are encouragements and miss His. Some of His encouragements are what I call "left-handed."  They are encouragements disguised in opportunities and challenges.  Sometimes they are wrapped in seeming afflictions.  Of course, sometimes they are obnoxiously wonderful.

But, although God's encouragements are the best encouragements it is also the obliation of our brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage us.  This, it appears, is either rare or injuriously shallow and brief.

Although one may share a godly goal or undertaking for sinful reasons (pride, status, etc.) one may also do so because there is a need and desire for encouragement, counsel and even accountability.  It is adequate and good to know that what we are about is honoring to God but it is also a blessing to have the encouragement, counsel and accountability that a brother and sister can provide.

How may times have you felt a call or even an inclination to do something in of for the Kingdom only to have a less than enthusiastic response?  Now I don't mean a quesitoning - which is a good thing - but an almost skeptical, even suspicious response.  How may times have you shared the same and had an offer of encouragement, counsel or accoiuntability offered?  I imagine the former is a lot more frequent than the latter

I wonder what wonderful things have not happened becasue of a lack of ecnuragement  I wonder how many wonderful things have gone awry becasue of a lack off counsel.  and how may things now gather dust or just take up disc space for lack of accountability?  OK - I don't wonder - at least not that much.

One danger face by those who are called or inspired (I use the terms commonly) is that they want some for of approval by others.  Now that's not bad when we are in the early stages as long as the approval we seek is a confirmation of our sense and not applause.

It's the danger of "specialness" of which we need to be wary.  We have a thought or an insight and that grows into an opportunity for some sort of service.  we decide (all too often without counsel) that we are going to do it.  We tell someone.  They are impressed and that begins the downward flow of our efforts.  We were recognized as being "special," abouot to undertake a "special" think and so our flesh being satisfied we faulter in our progress.

Or we do move forward but the "un" or "ill" considered cost of the work quickly overwhelms us - and the next thing we know we're caught up in something else that's new and fresh and, well, easier.  That's not good but it is quite common - trust me, I know.

Or we begin our work and we bein to have doubts about it's value.  It is really meaningful?  Who am I to undertake this?  I have no credibility in this!  there's plenty our there that addresses this (or there are lots of people doing it).  Why reinvent the wheel?  Someone else can do it better!

All these press us down and slow - then stop - our progress.

To have a couple of brothers and sisters who will commit to encourage, counsel and hold you acountable is - well - incomfortable but I've discovered it is very valuable.  Not having listened to encouragement, counsel and being accountable concerning some undertakingI had on my heart has cost me years (literally).  I can only pray that the Lord will allow me time and opportunity to fulfill the call.

Examine yourself - Contentment 004

Examine yourself -  Contentment 004

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (Philippians 4:11 ESV)

LEARNED

Just a little backing up.  If you want to begin to study the Word, I have a few simple suggestions.  First, get a good translation of the Word and get one that has cross-references.  The Thompson-Chain Reference is a good option and it comes in several translations.  Second, get a good Bible Atlas.  I like the ESV Bible Atlas.  An Atlas will really help you understand the context of the scriptures you are reading.  Finally - and this is a biggy for me - get a copy of William Ames' book, The Marrow of Theology.  This is a very simple and clear outline of theology - not full of arguments, etc.  

These resources will be a big help as you begin your studies.  Stay away from "issue specific" books - especially those which tell you "how to," or get all wrapped up in areas of speculation, i.e. Revelation, millennial issues, demons, even money.  You don't want to get so hung up on one tree that you miss the forest!

OK - LEARNED

Let's talk Holy Spirit.  We can get into all kinds of long and tedious discussions about the Holy Spirit and the fruits and gifts but - let's not!

The Holy Spirit is both Comforter and Reminder.  He is given in sufficient and necessary measure to every believer.  There is no necessity for any more-than-ordinary signs of Him being given.  He is given - and that is that.

So???????

How He works is not a concern of mine.  That He works in us is.  He is sent to comfort us and to remind us.  Yes, I know He is the "seal" of our salvation, but He is also active in us.  

OK, He is active in us and if we pay attention with intention, we will see His working.  No thunder or lightening but some very curious moments of comfort and remembering.  I know - I seem to be getting a little weird.   But a couple of things I've experienced make me lean towards being weird.

Every once in a while I will have someone relate something they heard me say in a lesson and I am clueless about having said it.  It's not in my notes and it is unfamiliar to my recollection.  Thankfully, it is something true and sound but it is not something "I" thought up.  Now you can get as skeptical as you want, but I KNOW I didn't come up with it and so I "blame" ;-) the Spirit for a timely word for me to speak that - well - I didn't know I spoke.  I'm not trying to get all mystical or even miraculous here - it just has happened and I cannot lay claim to it.

I've also been reading the Word – something I’ve read time and time again and "Bam," I realize something I never saw before.  Of course I run to some good resources to check myself.  But I believe it's just (just????) the Spirit doing what He does in the hearts and minds of believers.

On the flip side, I have found myself convicted out of the blue and embarrassed (ok, more chagrined) that I had never seen that issue as an issue - if I saw it at all.  It's wonderfully humbling and assuring when that happens - It's not fun but it does get the job done.

My point, I guess, is this.  You don't need all the bells and whistles that are commonly attributed to the Spirit for Him to be working in your life.  He works in many, many ways, but we've somehow gotten diverted by all the yeeehaaaw things that are seen to be His.  I believe that He is more often the "still small voice," as opposed to the attention grabbing event.  

He can and has provided much for believers in the way of knowledge and insight when there was little to work with in the first place.  But folks, I believe that the more of the Word we get in our minds and hearts, the more He has to work with.  I believe the more we exercise our faith in the simple and mundane things like prayer, study and worship, the more regularly He works in us.

Hey, I'm more than willing to be absolutely wrong here.  But what I know to be true has served to undergird and confirm what I have experienced which is what I build my belief and trust on.  

It's not sitting around waiting for Him to do or say or impart something.  It's slowly, deliberately, regularly and earnestly engaging in the "disciplines," of our faith that makes us more sensitive and available to His working.  Now, that's my carefully determined view - it does not have to be yours.

But we all need to desire His working in our lives.  He is the only means of our growth - it is by His power working on and in us that we must rely upon for any kind of progress along the Way.  You can quote the Bible from cover to cover but without Him and His work - that's all you can do.

I don't believe you have to pray for Him to "come," or "be present."  I just think you have to be faithfully obedient and available and PAYING ATTENTION to see how He is in you and works in you.  You are "filled" by Him - everywhere you go and in everything you do He is present - think on that one.  Every poke of conscience and every inspiration to serve comes from Him.  Most of all, the power to keep going is all of Him and none of us.

I had a coach whose rule was - "You don't come to practice, you don’t get in the game."  He knew that unless we practiced individually and as a team, victory was dubious at best.  Practicing our faith, engaging in the "exercises" of our faith makes us fit and hail to be put into the game.  Trust me, God calling someone out of the bleachers to play is the exception, never the rule.

This and That Sin is Sin is Sin 092712

Jesus:

I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."   Joh 8:24 

Us:

He told us the we would die in our sins, for unless we believe that He is Him (the Christ) we will die in our sins.

I’ve gotten to where I really don’t care what specific sin or sins a person is engaged in.  And I am beginning to believe it really doesn’t matter.  I am beginning to believe that we have been diverted into talking about specific sins as a means to muddle the real point.

That, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Rom 3:23 is the main, if not only pertinent point. 

I am just tired of all the foofaraw about abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage…ad infinitum.  For me it’s just a diversion, a distraction.  It leads us into too rational a debate about specifics when the real problem is general and endemic to mankind.   

Rom 3:9-18  What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,  (10)  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;  (11)  no one understands; no one seeks for God.  (12)  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."  (13)  "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."  (14)  "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."  (15)  "Their feet are swift to shed blood;  (16)  in their paths are ruin and misery,  (17)  and the way of peace they have not known."  (18)  "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

The key for me is whether this is true of one who is in Christ or out of Christ.

That may shock some – but:

1Jn 1:8-10  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

I think we get terribly “fleshly” when it comes to sin.  We react to what we, individually or collectively, find to be the ickiest most revolting (or frightening) sins and we let the rest lie.  Homophobic is not just a term coined to vilify believers.  It is a term that describes a “fear” of homosexuality and hence homosexuals.  But, why would we ever fear that or them?

Tell me, what is the difference between a homosexual engaged in his or her lifestyle and a father/mother so consumed with the acquisition of wealth that they neglect their spouse or children?  What, pray tell, is the difference between “spinning” and lieing?  What is the difference between cheating on your taxes and stealing from the needy through hoarding your wealth?

Sin is sin is sin and we are all involved.  Believers and nonbelievers.

Yes, believers are no longer “slaves” to sin.  But are they “slaves” to Christ or just good buddies?  Unbelievers are indeed enemies of God but I have met some that have a higher level (sadly) of integrity than many believers I know. 

Remember the “log” vs. the “speck” thing?  Somehow logging has become a regular pastime for believers and specking not so much.

As many of you know I work as a consultant to support our ministry.  Most of my clients are either non-believers or ambivalent-believers.  I work every day in a morass of sinful attitudes and behaviors.  Trust me, greed, self-tenderness and deceit do a lot more damage in the un-saved world than many of the sins we love to rail and rant about. 

NOTE:  I recommend that you get and read Kuypers, Lectures on Calvinism.  Not to make you a Calvinist but to get a clear view of how things have been and are falling apart – just as God said.

In my work people always want to tell the “the problem.”  But rarely if ever is the problem THE problem.  Usually the problem they present is merely a symptom of a deeper problem – sin.

This is the case with believers and non-believers.  Sin.  Sin is the rejection of and/or rebellion against God.  That’s the cake – EVERYTHING ELSE is frosting and decoration. 

I would ask you to really pray about where your heart is on the knee-jerk sins we have singled out for special attention. There is only one unforgivable sin and I don’t really know that we can really know when someone has really committed it.  But, I believe that grace and mercy demand we not get obsessed with any particular sin in our dealing with the lost.  Sin is sin is sin.

Heb 12:1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely (sin which so easily entangles us), and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,…..

Sin is sin is sin! 

I am convinced that those who God calls to Himself – from whatever “sins” they may prefer – will be led to face and deal with sin through the ministry of the Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.  Aren’t you?

Puritan Prayers - recommended

Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in Thee, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being. Give me a deeper knowledge of Thyself as saviour, master, lord, and king. Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in Thy Word, more steadfast grip on its truth. Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from Thee.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 37-39).  . Kindle Edition.

How blessed we are to have recorded for our benefit the honest searching prayers of those who have walked with Him before us!  How clear and deep are these pools of grace.  How sweet the waters held within.  How simple and yet mighty are these petitions.

If we but borrow these might not our prayers be altered, made higher from a lower place?  Might we not find in them that for which our hearts yearn to express?  Might we not more readily seek the Holy Spirit of God with a greater hunder and yearning?  Might we not be blessed beyond measure?

I believe these prayers are ours not by divine inspiration but by His providential preservation.  From Him to them and down to us they come to raise us up and join us to the saints now in His presence.  In them we are joined with the hearts of our forefathers in the faith and in them we find the depth of our need expressed.

They need to be prayed not merely read.  They might be prayed slowly, reflectively seeking how they might call from our hidden or murky needs. 

Who knows from what specific circumstance they were prayered?  And yet, who cares?  I do not need to know the writers need but rather to find his expressed need my own.

What assurance we find here:  that we are not alone in our struggles; we are not alone in our need.  That we are not alone and never have been in seeking to be more faithful servants, submitted to the King.  Indeed there is nothing new under the sun, not even our weakenesses and fears as His servants. 

We are told to be bold and of good courage and yet we shrink and cower.  It is in prayers like these that we see the remedy for this.  We see that we need only seek Him, to pound upon the door insistently while we await His providence.   He will find us, He will answer the pounding for so He has promised.

Borrowed prayers are not some spiritual form of plagiarism.  Not when we ask Him to make them our own.  Not when we ask Him to use them to dig deeply into our hearts and minds and where we find a lack of one thing asked for we cry out louder for its provision.

Often I do not know the “what” or “how “of my prayers.  I am confounded by the cacophony of the flesh.  Yet in borrowing these prayers I find the cacophony stilled and silent and I hear my need expressed. 

I recommend this little book to you all.  To keep by your bedside or bettr yet to keep with you at all times.  Some of the prayers will instantly lift your spirit and heal your wounds, while others at first may not touch your heart, they will as He makes you ready. 

Puritan Prayers

Ministered to in ministering to......

There are giants in these days, though the times are not such as to allow them room to display their gigantic strength; in many a humble cot, in many a crowded workshop, in many a village manse there are to be found men of the house of David, men after God’s own heart, anointed with the holy oil.   Spurgeon, Charles Haddon (2010-08-03). Till He Come - Enhanced Version (Kindle Locations 962-963). Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Kindle Edition.

I have found and am still finding that though the men and women of known faith – of public faith – are worthy counselors,  it is the guiet and humble believer whose voice is little heard from whom I receive my greatest blessings.  It is from their walks and especially their prayer that God richly blesses me.

They think themselves poor and weak and in need for all things and in doing so they keep their eyes, minds and hearts focused on the Lord who has promised them His friendship and care.  It is their clear awareness and humble acceptance of their deep and broad need for Him to be strong in every aspect of their lives that is a much needed and kindly given reproach to me.

They have a special sense of things not being Ok and a pervasive hunger to lean solely upon His grace, mercy and power.  They speak of His being the only provisions they trust.  They speak of Him “speaking” to them not in audible voices, though He can, but rather through the guidance of the Word and the Spirit as well as a surrender to listen.

There are two people and one family to who I have been blessed to minister of late.  And I laugh.  In their coming to me for encouragement and counsel it has been I who have been given such.  They have been His ministers in my live, His “come along side” earthly helpers who, utterly unaware of the work He is doing through them,  spread the message of His faithfulness and His deep desire for us to utterly depend upon Him.  They have shown me that it is only when I am distracted by the world, the flesh or perhaps the devil that I am cast down in myself, by myself.

One in particular recommended a book that has greatly impacted his walk.  Perhaps sensing my skepticism he finally bought me a copy of the book.  For weeks it lay by the sofa on my little table.  I couldn’t bring myself to read it but I couldn’t shelve it either.  So it sat.

Finally, a few days ago, out of a sense of obligation to acknowledge the gift, I picked it up and began to read.  I did not put it down until I have read it all.  Today, it is dog-eared and marked and waiting to have the notes transcribed.  It is directly impacting my perspective and especially my heart.

Did I learn something “new.”  Well, only if seeing the Way of faith through someone else’s eyes and heart is “new,”  yes.  No new truths were revealed in the book but the striking difference in the author’s perspective was a real conviction.  The reality of how simply and faithfully God works and moves in the truly dark places in the world was a smack in the back of the head.

I did my “due diligence” on the author and I was shocked at how little I could find.  I looked hard to find evidence to feed my skepticism but I could find none.  My big hurdle came from his claim to have fasted fo 70+ days while in prison and being beaten with great regularity.  My reaction, “Yeah, right, 70+ days??”

In the book he talks about that experience.  He tells us that he was not fasting to grow closer to the Lord or be released from prison.  Rather he was praying to die and to be released from what he was going through.  Does he then talk about how God’s will was for him to live and do a bunch of great things etc, etc, etc???  Nope.  He simply relates that he was wanting to die and be with the Lord and the Lord said, “Not now.”

What was so shocking to me was that I, in my own comfortable western way, have sought the same thing.  I have, in the depths of despondency and pain, lay on my bed and asked the Lord to take me home.  My situation, compared to his, is certainly a paltry and minor thing but I “knew” the feeling, the despair he writes about.  I too had “heard” the Lord’s, “Not now.”

Maybe it’s just me, and I hope so, but the danger of “professional pride,” or “seminary sanctity,” is very real to me.  I was taught that I was to have all the answers – I was the “pro.”  Well I work to make myself remember that I only know the one in whom all the answers are found, I have NO exclusive claim to those answers and He doesn’t always give them through me.

I have also learned that regardless of our western proclivity for order, structure and boxes He does not NEED them.  Not that they are wrong but rather, when they are not possible, He is not hindered in any way, shape or form.

I am learning that the Holy Spirit is much neglected (or hampered) by many of us (me too).  For whatever reason we shrink from Him hence we deprive ourselves of His ministry.  But when we allow aberrant and strange supposed manifestations of the Spirit to make us hesitant for His ministry it is akin to clogging an artery to our hearts.  Yet, Jesus Himself tells us the purpose and we see the might of the Spirit throughout the Word.  It is the Spirit that is the seal the provenance of our citizenship  in the Kingdom and it is the Spirit working in us that conforms us to His likeness.  Oh, we certainly are invited to help – but we must be very careful not to hinder.

Those of us who are called to the role of evangelist, shepherd or teacher must accept the purpose of our calling which is to equip the saints for works of – yep – ministry.  When we do we will find ourselves ministered to in ways we do not expect by the very ones we so equip.

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 1:2

(1Pe 1:2)  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

You’ve heard the saying, “He said a mouthful.”  Well, Peter says several mouths-full in this verse.

Peter gives us a box in which we can see something about our lives in Jesus.  Our lives in Christ are:

1     1.  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father

2     2.  in the sanctification of the Spirit

3     3.  or obedience to Jesus Christ

4     4.  or sprinkling with his blood

Look at each point this way:

1     1.  You are His and that is no surprise to God He knew it and if He knew it He brought it to pass.

2     2.  You are His inside and out, over and under and His “seal” of the relationship, the Spirit, is in you an        

             upon you – and that Spirit works in you making you like Him.

3     3.  We couldn’t and wouldn’t obey without 1 and 2.  Now we can and do.  Don’t go all legalistic on me 

            now - !

4     4.  Huh?  This means you are His forever.  His blood has cleansed you and made you His dear child – and 

            this blood will always have its effect. 

I would love to launch into a lot of information about the broad and deep meaning of this passage but I won’t.  What Peter is telling you and I is that we are His – period – not questions on His part and that ought to help us when we question it on our part.  He did it – it is done!

One little – kool beans part.  Notice that Peter tells us 1 and 2 were done for obedience and then he mentions the sprinkling of the blood.  For me that’s a comfort.

When I read “for obedience,” my flesh is very quick to tell me how poorly I obey.  I get this big spreadsheet of all the rebellious and unthinking ways I disobey.  I’m sure Peter knew all about this.  I wonder how often his flesh reminded him of his sins (see Peter in the Gospels). 

So knowing that we would iinstantly default to our weak and struggling obedience Peter with the Spirit’s guidance brings up the blood of Jesus which cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

This knee jerk to our weakness/sin is what I call a “Romans 7 moment.”  Get your Bible and read Romans 7.  Ouch!  But please do not skip verse 25!!!!! 

From there Paul writes:

There is therefore now

no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus.(Rom 8:1)

There we are – this are us.  This is YOU!

Brothers and sisters, “in Christ,” no failure is ever final.  No one and nothing can undo what God has done.  Our hope here and our hope for heaven is secured by Him – not by us.

“Walk behind Him leaning forward.  If you fall, fall in His direction.  If you smack the ground, crawl towards Him.” MS